Northboro sports league alleges treasurer took $75,000

NORTHBORO 
The Northboro Baseball and Softball Association has asked police to investigate the alleged misappropriation of as much as $75,000 by the organization’s former treasurer, who submitted his resignation last weekend.

The league’s board of directors met tonight to discuss the allegations against former treasurer Edward R. Tache of Northboro, who held the position for four years. The 13 board members voted unanimously to ask police to pursue criminal charges.

“It’s pretty ugly,” the association’s secretary Michael Hodge said. “I’m angered more than anything. Here’s the faith and trust that the community puts in Mr. Tache and he betrayed it.”

Association president James Forbush headed to the Northboro Police Department after the meeting to ask police for an investigation.

A lawyer for Mr. Tache sent a letter to Mr. Forbush over the weekend. In the letter, lawyer Jon L. Revelli said his client wanted to resolve any misappropriation.

The Telegram & Gazette obtained a copy of the letter:

“Please allow this letter to memorialize our recent conversations during which I informed you that it is our intention to fully cooperate with the Northborough Little League in recapturing any monies which have been misappropriated from its accounts during Mr. Tache’s tenure as treasurer,” Mr. Revelli wrote Jan. 12. “To that end, Mr. Tache has delivered a check in the amount of $65,000 to my office to be held in escrow in my firm’s client trust account for the sole purpose of reimbursing the league any monies due and any fees incurred in connection with an accounting to ascertain the full restitution figure.”

Enclosed with the letter was Mr. Tache’s resignation.

Messages left for Mr. Revelli and Mr. Tache tonight were not returned.

“This is a very regrettable incident which we hope can be resolved amicably and without the necessity of formal intervention,” Mr. Revelli wrote in the letter.

Mr. Forbush said he has reviewed the debit card transactions for the association’s bank account and found transactions for haircuts, food purchases and a transaction for payment at a Reno, Nev., casino.

League money was also allegedly used to buy airline tickets and jewelry, according to the association.

“He was living off the funds,” Mr. Forbush said. “The transactions that I saw, I’m disgusted.”

As of tonight, Mr. Forbush and Mr. Hodge said, they have found $75,000 in discrepancies.

The association collects fees from players, donations and revenue from tournaments and a snack bar. When Mr. Forbush became president more than a year ago he began asking for more reporting of the association’s finances and he said he found information put forth by Mr. Tache to be suspect.

Every October there is a detailed review of the revenue. Something seemed off in that meeting, Mr. Forbush said. He and association secretary Mr. Hodge began reviewing the finances. The October meeting was rife with controversy as some members of the board of directors did not retain their positions.

Some of the books showed transactions for umpire fees and other generic items, but checks were not listed with those transactions, Mr. Forbush said.

There were cash withdrawals made in December for more than $2,000, which Mr. Forbush found odd, considering the association had nothing going on at that time.

Earlier this month, Mr. Forbush began reviewing the debit card transactions and found what he considered questionable expenditures. Members of the board of directors have also pored over the books.

League officials shut off Mr. Tache’s access to the account and contacted lawyer Richard J. Rafferty Jr., who advised the officials to get outside counsel. Mr. Rafferty was involved in the initial investigation.

“We are trying to work through this to get the money back,” Mr. Forbush said. “The cash withdrawals were consistent. It appears as soon as he took over the account, there were transactions right away.”

Mr. Forbush said the matter has been discussed with Mr. Tache and he has cooperated with the association. A forensic accountant is now being hired to see if any other discrepancies are evident.

The association’s cash flow is solid, so vendors can still be paid and the upcoming baseball and softball seasons will not be affected.

Bank statements will now be distributed to the entire board regularly and the use of a debit card for the association’s account has been canceled.

“We’re really upset,” Mr. Forbush said. “Frankly, we have a season to run, and we will focus on the spring season.”